Gathered for the first time in audience on the theme of "
the threat of the Chinese Communist Party for America
", the elected Democrats and Republicans of the US Congressional Committee on China alerted bluntly on February 28 to the risks posed by weigh on Washington the rise of Beijing.
“
It's not a polite tennis match.
It's an existential struggle over what life will be like in the 21st century
,” said Mike Gallagher, chairman of the new parliamentary committee, by way of introduction.
The commission, held in the presence of members of civil society, human rights representatives and pro-democracy activists from Hong Kong, discussed for several hours the multiple aspects of Chinese influence, from the use of social network TikTok to attacks on Taiwan, to the origins of Covid-19.
For Mike Gallagher, the policy vis-à-vis Beijing "
over the next ten years will prepare the ground for the next hundred years
".
"
Time is not on our side
," he warned.
Consensus between Democrats and Republicans
The elected representative from Wisconsin notably insisted on the need for unity between Democrats and Republicans, worrying that this would be in danger as the 2024 presidential campaign approached, when Republicans might want to show a Joe Biden “
weak in the face of China
”.
The committee's Democratic co-chair, Raja Krishnamoorthi, echoed this point, condemning the naïveté of the idea that China's economic integration could “inevitably lead to democracy
”
.
Those who believed that "
underestimated
" the Chinese government, said the Democratic lawmaker, who urges for increased American economic competitiveness to counter Chinese power.
“
We don't want a war with the PRC, not a cold war, not a hot war
,” assured the Illinois elected official, “
we don't want a 'clash of civilizations'.
But we seek lasting peace.
And that is why we must deter aggression
”.
Present at the hearing, the former deputy security adviser under Donald Trump, Matt Pottinger, estimated for his part that the ability of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to present itself as a “responsible” and “
normal
”
entity
was “
one of the great magic tricks of the modern age
”.
“
You could say that the CCP is the Harry Houdini of Marxist-Leninist regimes, the David Copperfield of communism, the Criss Angel of autocracy,
” he continued, ending, however, by asserting that “
the magic is fading.
".
Tensions between Beijing and Washington
This first meeting is being held in a context of renewed tensions between Washington and Beijing.
In early February, the Pentagon had successively alerted to the presence of several
"Chinese spy balloons
" over the United States, Canada and as far as Latin America.
The Republicans had stepped up to the plate, criticizing the Biden Administration for the lack of information given to Congress on these balloons finally shot down.
The heads of the parliamentary committee on China then denounced a “
violation of American sovereignty
”.
Also in the context of the war in Ukraine, without coming out for or against Russia's "
special operation
", China has repeatedly expressed its support for Moscow in the face of Western sanctions.
In late February, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed fears that China was considering supplying arms to Russia, comments Beijing was quick to deny.
Asked about the message sent by China by sending its balloons, the former national security adviser HR McMaster, also present at the hearing, declared to see there the “metaphor of the massive effort of espionage”
Chinese
in the whole world.
China, meanwhile, has always categorically denied these accusations, now that they are mere scientific research devices.
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